Title
Adopt Resolution commending Joseph Pezzini upon his selection as the National Steinbeck Center's 2012 Valley of the World Ag Leader Award.
(Supervisor Calcagno)
Body
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini's roots run deep in the agricultural industry where his father, Angelo Pezzini and grandfather, Joe Pezzini, after arriving in the United States from Italy in the 1920's, first farmed artichokes at the west end of Carmel Valley in 1930 and then moved north to Castroville in 1940; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini grew up working on the family farm with his brothers and sisters; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini graduated from Palma High School, attended Hartnell Community College and graduated from U.C Davis in 1981 with a B.S. in Agricultural Science and Management. After graduating from U.C. Davis, Joe went on to earn an MBA from the Agribusiness Institute at the University of Santa Clara in 1983; and
WHEREAS, while attending college Joseph Pezzini worked for Ocean Mist Farms and affiliate companies during summer months and seasonal breaks; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini returned to the Salinas Valley after college in 1983 and accepted a position with Boutonnet Farms as a Ranch Farmer. In 1987, Joe and two partners, Troy Boutonnet and Les Tottino, started Valley Pride, a harvesting company dedicated to harvesting Ocean Mist Farms crops. Joe is president and managing partner of the company; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini is Vice President of Operations at Ocean Mist Farms where he is responsible for Cooling Operations, Food Safety, Research & Development, Quality Assurance, Human Resources, and Strategic Planning. In addition, Joe accepted the position of Chief Operating Officer of Ocean Mist Farms in February 2009, a position which he takes very seriously and proudly serves; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini dedicates a great deal of his personal time to the community. He is a board member of numerous organizations including the Produce Marketing Association, Grower Shipper Association Foundation, Palma School, and the Clinch Endowment of the Catholic Diocese of Monterey; Board Member and Past Chairman of the Advisory Board, California Leafy Green Product Handler Marketing Agreement; Past Chairman of the Board for Ag Against Hunger; Past Treasurer of the Board of ARIEL Theatrical; and California Agricultural Leadership Program, Graduate Class 28; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini was Chairman of the Board for the Grower Shipper Association in 2006 when the story of the E.coli/spinach crisis brought national news attention. He exercised calmness and stepped forward to give a voice to the farmer and reassured the consumer. Most significantly; however, was Joe's leadership in the agricultural industry by taking constructive steps for the future; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini led the foundation of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, an organization formed to ensure food safety on the farm for the leafy greens industry in California that verifies that lettuce and leafy greens are grown and harvested according to good agricultural practices. This program has become a model in California, duplicated in Arizona and currently the hallmark for the nation; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini has testified before the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture in Washington D.C. and has been recognized with numerous industry awards; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini's many honors include, 2007 Produce Man of the Year, Vance Publishing Corporation; 2007 Agriculture Leader of the Year, Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce; 2007 Profiles in Leadership Honoree, California Agricultural Leadership Foundation; 2007 Single Step Award, Perishable Pundit; 2008 The Packer Top 25, Vance Publishing Corporation; 2009 Hartnell College Distinguished Alumnus Award; and the 2010 LGMA Golden Check Mark Award; and
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini enjoys participating in many forms of endurance type physical activities including marathons and triathlons, while also taking pleasure in hiking and gardening.
WHEREAS, Joseph Pezzini and his wife, Mary, have been married for 26 years and have 2 children, David, 24 and Bess, 20 and have achieved the American dream through hard work, honesty, integrity and dedication.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Monterey County Board of Supervisors and all citizens thereof hereby congratulates Joseph Pezzini as recipient of the National Steinbeck Center's 2012 Valley of the World Ag Leader Award and wishes him continued peace and happiness in all his future endeavors.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on this ______ day of ________________, 2012 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
I, Gail T. Borkowski, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Monterey, State of California, hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of an original order of said Board Supervisors duly made and entered in the minutes thereof of Minute Book ____, for the meeting on ________.
Dated:
Gail T. Borkowski, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, County of Monterey, State of California.
By___________________________________
Deputy
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